Between postcard Piran and the port of Koper sits Izola — and it's my favourite of the three. A real Istrian fishing town with sun-faded façades, nets drying on the quay, the best fish restaurants on the coast, and beaches where you still hear Slovene spoken in mid-August. If you're looking for the authentic Slovenian coast, this is it.
Things to do in Izola: wander, eat, swim
Izola isn't a town you sightsee; it's a town you live. The historic centre sits on a former island (izola means “island” in Italian): Manzioli Square with its Gothic palace, St Maurus church at the top, and above all the fishing harbour — the last on the coast where boats genuinely land the day's catch. In the evening the quays become Istria's finest terrace: the sun sets straight down the gulf, kids dive off the pontoons, and nobody is in a hurry.
The beaches: the coast's best quality-to-crowd ratio
Svetilnik beach, by the lighthouse, is where Izolans take their daily swim. For a full day, head to San Simon: a gently shelving bay, ideal with children, on the site of a Roman maritime villa. And between Izola and Strunjan, the coastal road closed to cars in summer (Belvedere) hides coves reachable on foot or by bike — the quietest on the whole littoral.
Where to eat: the fish capital
Simple: when friends ask where to eat the best fish in Slovenia, I say Izola. The harbour konobas serve the morning's catch — fried calamari, grilled sardines, brodet (the Istrian fish stew) — at prices that make you smile if you've just come from Piran. Pair with local Malvazija and finish with an ice cream on the waterfront: the coast's perfect evening fits in three quayside addresses.
Patrick's tip: ride the Parenzana
Izola is the central stop on the Parenzana, the old Trieste-Poreč railway turned cycling route. The Koper-Izola-Portorož stretch passes through a railway tunnel bored into the hill — guaranteed coolness in summer — and unrolls the entire coast without a single car. Bikes are rented in town and the grade is easy: it's the finest way to see the Slovenian coast in a day, with swims on demand. Next stop: Piran, 30 minutes' pedalling away.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to do in Izola?
Wander the fishing harbour and old town (Manzioli Square, St Maurus church), swim at Svetilnik or San Simon, eat fish on the quays and cycle the Parenzana. Izola is the coast's town to live in rather than to sightsee.
Izola or Piran?
Piran for architecture and spectacle, Izola for authenticity, fish restaurants and family beaches. Fifteen minutes apart, they combine in a single day — ideally with dinner in Izola.
Where can you swim in Izola?
At Svetilnik by the lighthouse for a quick dip, at San Simon for a family day (gently shelving bay), and in the coves along the Belvedere road towards Strunjan for peace and quiet — closed to cars in summer, reachable on foot or by bike.
Patrick Faust
French expat in Slovenia since 2004. Founder of e-Slovénie, a Slovenia travel guide. Learn more →